Massachusetts Emergency Vehicle Light Laws: The Chapter 90 Section 7E Permit System

Key takeaways

• In Massachusetts, authority to display a red warning light comes from a written permit issued by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under M.G.L. c. 90, § 7E. The head of the fire department applies; the individual does not self-apply.

• Massachusetts requires the permit to be carried on the operator's person or in the vehicle in an easily accessible place whenever authorized red lights are mounted.

• Roles eligible for a red light permit under M.G.L. c. 90, § 7E include forest wardens and deputy forest wardens, municipal fire chiefs and deputy chiefs, municipal fire chaplains, members and call members of town fire departments, members and call members of emergency medical services, and Department of Fire Services employees and contractors.

• Blue light authority in Massachusetts is tied to law enforcement affiliation and is not available to volunteer fire or EMS members, unlike neighboring Connecticut, where blue is the volunteer firefighter color.

• Massachusetts red lights may be displayed only when proceeding to a fire or responding to an alarm and when official duty requires it, and at no other time.

• Violations of M.G.L. c. 90, § 7E carry a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $300 where no other penalty is provided, in addition to permit revocation. 

Massachusetts is a permit state, and the permit is the whole story. M.G.L. c. 90, § 7E governs the display of red or blue lights on vehicles, and it is unusually explicit about the application, carry, and revocation mechanics.

If you take one thing from this page: in Massachusetts, the light is not legal because of who you are. It is legal because the Registrar has issued a written permit, and because you are carrying that permit.

Who Qualifies for a Red Light Permit in MA?

Section 7E enumerates the roles eligible to mount flashing, rotating or oscillating red lights. The list is broader than most people assume and includes forest wardens and deputy forest wardens, a chief or deputy chief of a municipal fire department, a chaplain of a municipal fire department, a member or call member of a town fire department, a member or call member of an emergency medical service, and full-time or contract employees of the Department of Fire Services.

The statute has been amended over time to add categories, which is one reason older third-party summaries of Massachusetts law read as incomplete. Chaplains and Department of Fire Services contract employees are relatively recent additions relative to much of the published guidance online.

The Permit Mechanics

The carry requirement is the one that catches people. A valid permit sitting at the station or at home does not satisfy the statute. It has to be with the operator or in the vehicle.

Blue lights

Section 7E is titled to cover the display of red or blue lights, and the revocation language references a blue light permit that must be delivered back to the Registrar on notice of revocation. Reinstatement after revocation requires consent from the head of the police department in the town where the original permit was issued.

Because the blue light authorization is tied to law enforcement affiliation, it is not an option for volunteer fire, EMS, tow or security operators in Massachusetts. This is a sharp contrast with Connecticut, where blue is the volunteer firefighter color. Responders who cross the border between the two states should be aware that the same equipment can carry very different meaning and very different legality.

Amber: Tow & Municipal Vehicles

Section 7E is specifically a red and blue statute. Amber warning lights on tow, utility, construction and municipal maintenance vehicles are handled separately, and the Registrar retains authority under 7E to make rules governing or prohibiting the display of other lights on motor vehicles as deemed necessary for public safety.

For that reason, tow and utility operators should verify current requirements with the Massachusetts RMV rather than relying only on the statutory text, since a meaningful part of the amber framework sits in regulation rather than in the General Laws.

The Clause That Overrides The Rest

Section 7E includes a sentence worth quoting in every compliance briefing: nothing in the section authorizes any owner or operator to disregard or violate any statute, ordinance, by-law, rule or regulation regarding motor vehicles or their use on the ways of the Commonwealth.

A permitted red light in Massachusetts is a request for courtesy from other drivers. It confers no privilege. Call firefighters and EMS members responding in a personal vehicle stop at red lights, observe speed limits and yield like any other motorist.

Building a Compliant Massachusetts POV

Because the permitted display window is narrow (proceeding to a fire or responding to an alarm), most Massachusetts call firefighters want a setup that is genuinely invisible when off. Hide-away LEDs installed in the headlight and taillight housings, or a low-profile dash and window mount light, are the two dominant approaches.

Departments running marked apparatus should look at full-size lightbars and sirens and speakers. We stock Whelen, Federal Signal and SoundOff Signal for municipal specs, and our install shop regularly handles Massachusetts fleet work.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a red light in Massachusetts?

Yes. Under M.G.L. c. 90, § 7E no red light may be mounted or displayed until the head of the fire department applies to the Registrar and a written permit is issued and delivered to the owner and operator.

Do I have to carry the permit in the vehicle?

Yes. Section 7E requires any person operating a vehicle with authorized flashing, rotating or oscillating red lights to have the permit on their person or in the vehicle in an easily accessible place.

Can volunteer firefighters use blue lights in Massachusetts?

No. The blue light authorization in Massachusetts is tied to law enforcement affiliation, unlike neighboring Connecticut, where blue is the volunteer firefighter color.

What is the penalty for illegal emergency lights in Massachusetts?

Where no other penalty is provided, section 7E sets a fine of not less than one hundred dollars and not more than three hundred dollars, in addition to permit revocation.

Last Updated & Disclaimer

Last reviewed: August 2026. This page summarizes M.G.L. c. 90, § 7E and related provisions for general informational purposes. It is not legal advice. Statutes are amended and agency requirements change. Confirm current requirements with the official sources linked above, your department or agency, and the relevant state motor vehicle authority before purchasing or installing warning equipment.